Posts from Insulation

Contractors say, on every building or renovation project, people always want three things: inexpensive, fast and good. At Re-Nest, we always say that projects should also be eco-friendly. The answer to this is recycled rubber. Versatile and abundant, rubber can be used for everything from roofing to flooring and many things in between. Read more...

It's no secret that from an insulation point of view, windows are one the weakest links in your average home. Even when they're closed most of the heat loss and gain will come through windows. Double glazing is a fantastic option, but what if you're renting, need something quickly or the budget just doesn't extend that far?

We live in a poorly insulated home in a cold climate. Every fall when the furnace kicks in I cringe a little bit thinking about the fossil fuels that are burning in the basement because know that we use more fuel than a well insulated home would use. If more insulation would lighten our carbon footprint, why don't we just insulate more?

We know, we know. Just writing those words hurt our hearts. But it's true: the first day of Fall is tomorrow, which means Winter is right around the corner. Now is the time to weatherize your home before the heat is blasting in (and probably escaping out of) your home. Did you know that the amount of heat escaping through cracks in the average house is equivalent to having an open window year round? Inadequate insulation and air leakage are the leading causes of energy waste in homes. Cut down on the chilly drafts, reduce your heating bills, and slash your overall home energy use this winter with the following tips:

Sheep's wool insulation, now available in the US, is an alternative to fibreglass. Commonly used in the Europe, Australia and and New Zealand, sheep's wool is recyclable, safe to install, and makes sense— after all, sheep are built to withstand hot, cold, damp and dry seasons.

There are a lot of choices when and comes to insulation materials (we've covered several green options), but knowing what type to use and how to use it can be confusing. Once you've figured out where you need to insulate, determining the best method is your next step. Check out our picks after the jump to find out how to get the best bang for your insulation buck!

Most people have a hard time associating cork with anything other than wine. While bottle stoppers account for roughly 70% of cork production worldwide, cork can also be in musical instruments, insulation, and a tremendous variety of flooring products. But the amazing thing about cork is how sustainable the production is, from cradle to grave. It's almost too green to be true.

I live in Texas and it's hot, to say the least. In the hopes of reducing our energy use and cost, my husband and father-in-law embarked on a three phase installation project to provide our home with better insulation.

Ahh, crawl spaces - those lovely subterranean areas that often consist of dirt, cobwebs and feelings of claustrophobia. Even though we may try to avoid them, improving an existing crawl space is actually an important step in greening your home. Retrofitting these areas not only addresses energy efficiency and moisture problems, but for those living in a small home, they can also be turned into valuable storage space!

Q: We need insulation for the attic in our 1920s home, which currently has no insulation at all. I have heard about bio-based foam insulation, but the company I am considering says their R-rating is about 23, and I have heard that ideally it should be R-49. The person who came to give an estimate said that it actually performs about double the R number so I am confused if this is a more green and efficient insulation, compared to other forms such as blown-in fiberglass, which offers a rating of 49. Which kind would you recommend?